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Chapter 242: Meeting Umbridge Again
Chapter 242: Meeting Umbridge Again
Thanks to the Galleons, the two had a loose working relationship. For Mundungus, who operated in the gray area between the legal and illegal, this was all part of the norm.
He had met many important figures. They might be high and mighty, but they always needed people like him.
Felix curiously asked him about the "big shots" he claimed to have connections with, but Mundungus deftly avoided the question, never letting anything slip. This actually earned him a bit of Felix's respect.
After a moment's hesitation, Felix tentatively said, "Mundungus, have you heard of a Time-Turner?"
"What's that?" Mundungus asked, eyes wide.
"It's... never mind, forget about it." Felix dismissed the sudden thought. Even if some old families had Time-Turners, they wouldn't sell them. They would keep that secret tightly guarded.
Despite the stringent conditions for using a Time-Turner, it was undoubtedly one of the most magical items. Its origins remained one of the most closely guarded secrets in the wizarding world.
Mundungus gave Felix a puzzled look but secretly noted the name. If this mysterious wizard mentioned it, it had to be something special. He could keep an eye out for it and sell the information at a high price if he found anything!
"By the way", Mundungus said, "I can get my hands on other things, like artworks, ancient bronze items, or items confiscated by the Ministry of Magic..."
Felix looked at him with a strange expression. You have some shady connections, don't you? But Mundungus's next words caught his attention—
"...and some magical creatures and their eggs or younglings."
"Magical creatures?" Felix interrupted. "Tell me more about that."
"Oh, oh..." Mundungus paused, "I mean, creatures that aren't allowed to be kept privately, possibly dangerous ones like Nifflers, Hippogriffs, or Horned Serpents."
"You can get your hands on these dangerous creatures?" Felix asked, incredulous.
"Actually, it's all about luck. Every few years, someone will be selling them. I've even seen fire dragon eggs and Vampire Bats for sale!"
Mundungus continued, "In recent years, you can see them more often. You know, the Eastern Superpower just fell apart a couple of years ago, and the magical world over there is in chaos. A lot of good stuff is leaking out. Honestly, no one's paying attention; they're just glad to get rid of it..."
Felix nodded slightly. He hadn't been following these things much in recent years. He rarely visited the black markets of the wizarding world in various countries anymore. The travels he took in his first year after graduation seemed like a distant memory.
After some thought, he told Mundungus that if he found any particularly rare magical creatures, he should notify him directly.
Mundungus took another large swig of his drink, his face flushed. He began recounting his "interesting" adventures from his travels.
"Two years ago, during a black market deal, Aurors from the Ministry of Magic suddenly burst in. They were well-prepared—hic! We all scattered, each for ourselves... I hid in a mud pit, and another Dark Wizard, in a panic, also hid in the same pit, his backside facing me—"
"Ha—how could I pass up this opportunity? I threatened him to hand over everything in his pockets, or I'd cast Expelliarmus on his backside..."
Felix wasn't sure what to say. Mundungus finally finished his drink, wiped his mouth, and put back on his woman's scarf. "If there's nothing else, I'll be off. Those patrolling Dementors are a real nuisance—"
Ding Ling~
The bell at the door rang, and a wave of cold air rushed in. Hog's Head instantly fell silent as the patrons stared at the Dementor that had just walked in.
A Wizard, wrapped in bandages and resembling a mummy, twitched and fell off his chair.
The bartender, who was sitting behind the counter, suddenly raised his wand, a silvery-white light flickering from its tip. "Stay away from my place, Dementor!" he shouted roughly, his wiry gray hair and beard bristling and expanding outward.
The chill in the bar instantly subsided.
Felix noticed that Mundungus had lowered his head, shivering uncontrollably and casting a fearful glance at the bartender. He wasn't sure if Mundungus was afraid of the Dementor or the irate old man with the raised wand.
The Dementor lingered at the door, and the old man grew even angrier. He was tall, with bright blue eyes, and the silvery-white light from his wand was starting to take on a solid form, revealing a pair of large horns.
Felix guessed it might be a horned goat or deer. The persistent smell of goat in the air suggested it was likely a male goat.
"There's no Sirius Black here, you moldy idiots!" he roared.
Mundungus whispered, "It's been almost twenty years, and he's still so temperamental..."
The Dementor floated high, soaring over the old man and scanning the room. A concave shape appeared on their hood, possibly a mouth, as a hissing sound filled the air.
When their gaze fell on Felix, they froze in a very human-like way, then slowly turned their heads away, like a rusted neck.
Without looking back, they floated out of the bar.
'Did they recognize me?' Felix touched the mask on his face. 'They were scared off by me? Was it through smell or emotional perception?'
Felix activated his Occlumency and tapped his chest, casting a series of Concealment spells on himself.
Stepping out of Hog's Head, Felix noticed a few Aurors on the street. They were dressed in formal combat gear, their eyes scanning the crowd.
Among them, a short, plump witch in a pink dress stood out. She was speaking in a high-pitched, thin voice, and Felix recognized her as Dolores Umbridge.
He had seen her once at Belby's award ceremony, where Belby had complained that the worst part of the ceremony was having Umbridge as the host.
Felix remembered her sickly sweet smile and the pink bow, as well as the unusually short wand she held in her hand.
"What is she doing here? I thought this woman was the head of the Department of the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures."
Felix's gaze met Umbridge's, and through his mask, he saw her staring at him suspiciously. She grinned, her mouth opening wide like a toad preparing to pounce.
She pointed at Felix with her thick finger, and two young Aurors cautiously approached, one of whom Felix recognized—she was a Hufflepuff alumna, two years his junior.
He remembered her because of her unique ability—she was a rare natural Metamorphmagus, capable of changing her appearance at will.
Behind his mask, Felix smiled, and in the next moment, he vanished.
He had a feeling they would meet again.
(End of Chapter)
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